Recipe: Adapting cake mix es to different pan sizes

How to adapt a standard Duncan Hines White Cake mix recipe to make a tiered, large layer or party cake.
Source: Duncan Hines

The recipe listed below is for a White Cake mix. Please note that we do not recommend using the Golden Butter Recipe, Fudge Butter Recipe or Angel Food mixes for baking large layer, tier or party cakes.

When using the White mix to bake a large layer, tier or party cake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. You will bake all sizes at this temperature. Grease and flour the pan.

For each box of mix, add the following:
1 1/3 cups of water
3 egg whites
1 tablespoon of oil

Don't combine more than two mixes at one time. Beat for two minutes. We don't recommend using pans deeper than 2". Various pan sizes may be used as follows:

PAN SIZE - PAN VOLUME (AMOUNT OF BATTER) - BAKE TIME
6x2-inch deep pan - 2 1/4 cups batter - bake: 35-45 minutes
8x2-inch deep pan - 3 3/4 cups batter - bake: 40-50 minutes
10x2-inch deep pan - 6 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
12x2-inch deep pan - 8 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
14x2-inch deep pan - 11 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
16x2-inch deep pan - 15 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
18x2-inch half round - 10 cups batter - bake: 50-60 minutes
11x15x2-inch deep pan - 12 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
12x17x1-inch deep pan - 10 cups batter - bake: 35-45 minutes
12x18x2-inch deep pan - 15 1/2 cups batter - bake: 37-47 minutes
18x24x2-inch deep pan - 27 1/2 cups batter - bake: 43-53 minutes

Each mix yields 5 1/2 cups of batter. Cool 15 to 30 minutes in the pan on a wire cooling rack. Remove from the pan using the rack to support large layers.

---

The recipe listed below is for a Chocolate based Cake mix (Devils Food, Dark Chocolate Fudge, Swiss Chocolate). Please note that we do not recommend using the Golden Butter Recipe, Fudge Butter Recipe or Angel Food mixes for baking large layer, tier or party cakes.

When using any flavor other than white or one of our Chocolate based mixes for large layer, tier or party cakes, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. You will bake all sizes at this temperature. Grease and flour the pan.

For each box of mix add the following:
1 1/4 cups of water
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of oil

Don't combine more than two mixes at one time. Beat for two minutes. We don't recommend using pans deeper than 2-inches. Various pan sizes may be used as follows:

PAN SIZE - PAN VOLUME (AMOUNT OF BATTER) - BAKE TIME
6x2-inch deep pan - 2 cups batter - bake: 30-40 minutes
8x2-inch deep pan - 3 1/2 cups batter - bake: 35-45 minutes
10x2-inch deep pan - 5 1/2 cups batter - bake: 40-50 minutes
12x2-inch deep pan - 7 1/2 cups batter - bake: 40-50 minutes
14x2-inch deep pan - 10 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
16x2-inch deep pan - 13 3/4 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
18x2-inch half round - 9 cups batter - bake: 43-53 minutes
11x15-inch deep pan - 11 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes
12x17-inch deep pan - 9 cups batter - bake: 35-45 minutes
12x18-inch deep pan - 13 3/4 cups batter - bake: 38-48 minutes
18x24-inch deep pan - 22 cups batter - bake: 45-55 minutes

Each mix yields 5 1/2 cups of batter. Cool 15 to 30 minutes in the pan on a wire cooling rack. Remove from the pan using the rack to support large layers.

Hi Shauna,

In danger of stating the obvious, the number of servings you'll get from the cake will depend on the size pieces you cut. I've seen suggested servings for an 11x15-inch cake listed from 30-60 pieces.

Happy Baking!

Betsy